The smell of fresh coffee filled Gull Lake Main Street Café as the usual crew settled into their favorite seats. Their conversations—always lively, always full of strong opinions—felt particularly weighted today. Gull Lake was changing, and so was its leadership.
Granny Irene set down her mug, looking around the table. “So, the Town Administrator is retiring. That came up at the last council meeting.”
Roger Winslow nodded. “Forty years of service—she kept council informed, made sure policies were carried out, and always kept things running. I don’t think people realize how much she handled behind the scenes.”
Edna Macgillivary scoffed, crossing her arms. “She might have kept things running, but I kept her busy, that’s for sure! Every meeting, I gave her a hard time about taxes, roads, sidewalks—you name it. And don’t even get me started on bylaw enforcement.”
Marge Grey smirked. “Oh, we remember. Didn’t you once call the Town Office about a single pothole on your street?”
Edna huffed. “It wasn’t just a pothole—it was practically a crater! But I’ll give her credit—she always had an answer, even if I didn’t like it.”
Conrad Boone chuckled. “So basically, she kept the town running while also managing you.”
Edna shot him a look. “Watch it, Boone, or I’ll start complaining about your sidewalk next.”
The laughter settled as Conrad shifted gears. “Speaking of the last council meeting, a few key decisions came out of it.”
Roger leaned in. “They approved hiring lifeguards for Veren Pool this summer. So that’s happening again this year.”
Edna sighed, shaking her head. “That exhaust fan still sounds ridiculous to me, but at least they’re making sure the pool has staff. Kids need something to do when school’s out.”
Marge chimed in. “They also approved a standalone cannabis retail store at QuickStop Corner Mart, greenlit a waterplant upgrade, and set seasonal pool staff wages between $15 and $30 an hour.”
Nora Aldag nodded. “Every decision—from infrastructure improvements to staffing—affects how this town runs.”
Mark Price, owner of The Prairie Reel Theatre, brightened the conversation. “And let’s talk about the fun stuff—Gull Lake EMS and Ranch House Meat Company Inc. are hosting an EMS Family Fun day at Community Hall on April 20. Pancake breakfast, Easter egg hunt (Little Green on the Prairie Park)—it’s just the kind of event Gull Lake needs.”
Marge wrapped up the updates. “Also, Gull Lake Pharmacy is hiring a Pharmacy Assistant, and Fire & Rescue is still looking for volunteers. Plus, the Bingo night at Legion Hall in Shaunavon raised over $4,000 for chronic disease support.”
The conversation slowed for a moment, and Roger leaned back. “It’s strange to think about the Town Administrator retiring. Forty years—that’s a long time to serve a town.”
Edna nodded, though she kept her usual sharp tone. “She certainly kept this place in order—even when I complained about every budget decision.”
Granny Irene took another sip of her coffee. “Whoever steps into that role next has big shoes to fill.”
The group murmured their agreement, a quiet acknowledgment of the transitions ahead. Then, with a knowing smile, Roger raised his cup. “To the ones who keep things running—past, present, and future.”
One by one, the others followed suit, their cups meeting in a shared toast—not just to the Town Administrator but to the town itself, the people who call it home, and the small but meaningful moments that make Gull Lake what it is.
Note: The characters in this story are fictional, but the news and events are real and sourced directly from Gull Lake Events. Conversations at the Gull Lake Café capture the spirit of coffee row talk, but for the full scoop on real community news, updates, and events, be sure to check out Gull Lake Events and get involved in the life of our community!
Gull Lake Events